10 Iconic Rom-Com Girlies and the Roles That Made Us Fall In Love With Them

Fall is here, which means it’s “cozy rom-com” season — though, let’s be honest, rom-coms are perfect for every season. As you start planning your fall watchlist, we want to highlight some actresses who’ve shaped the genre over the years. Here are 10 iconic rom-com girlies to grace the silver screen.

1. Julia Roberts 

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Julia Roberts has been on the big screen since the late 1980s when she played her debut role in the 1988 film “Satisfaction”, but it was her role as Vivian Ward in “Pretty Woman” that truly made us fall in love with her and earned her superstar status. Roberts shows her natural charisma through the screen. Her characters in rom-coms like “My Best Friend’s Wedding”, “Valentine’s Day” and “Runaway Bride”, often possess deep vulnerability and warmth, which have been some of the defining characteristics of Roberts’ acting style. She also has a big sense of humor that we can easily imagine existing beyond her on-screen roles. I mean, think of her running and jumping inside the FedEx truck in a wedding gown in “Runaway Bride.” An absurd yet hilarious situation I can easily imagine Roberts in. 

2. Anne Hathaway

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Anne Hathaway has been part of some of the most iconic rom-coms of the 21st century, including “Valentine’s Day”,“Ella Enchanted”, “Bride Wars” and “Love and Other Drugs”, among others. Her humorous yet vulnerable characters have won us over again and again. Many first fell in love with Hathaway when she interpreted Mia Thermopolis in “The Princess Diaries” and continued to fall in love with her as she gave life to other beloved characters throughout her career. 

3. Nia Long

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Nia Long’s characters often exude natural elegance and emotional depth. Audiences first fell in love with her as Brandi in the 1991 film “Boyz n the Hood.” Later, she portrayed Nina, an aspiring photographer navigating love, In the 1997 film “Love Jones.” Additionally, we’ve seen her impeccable comedic timing in films like “Big Momma’s House” and “The Best Man.” Long’s approach to her roles is always grounded in authenticity and strength, which has made her a beloved actress.

4. Sandra Bullock 

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Sandra Bullock has excelled in various roles across different genres. We’ve loved her characters in action and thriller films like “Bird Box”, “Speed” and “Premonition”, and we’ve loved her in rom-coms like “The Proposal”, “While You Were Sleeping” and “Two Weeks Notice.” Picking a favorite Sandra Bullock scene is no easy task, but her dancing to “Get Low” with Betty White in the middle of the forest in “The Proposal” has to be in my top three. 

5. Reese Witherspoon 

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Reese Witherspoon’s breakthrough role was Tracy Flick in the 1999 film “Election.” She’s shown a relatable charm through various characters throughout the years. Some of her most iconic projects include “Legally Blonde”, “Just Like Heaven”, “Sweet Home Alabama”, “Four Christmases” and “How Do You Know.” We’ve seen her be ambitious, intelligent and vulnerable and have strong chemistry with her co-stars in scenes like the kiss between her character and Josh Lucas’ in “Sweet Home Alabama” while they’re standing in the rain. Iconic.

6. Kate Hudson

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Kate Hudson’s characters are known for their wit. An example is her character’s outlandish efforts to make Matthew McConaughey’s character break up with her in the 2003 film, “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” The talented actress has also stolen our hearts with her roles in movies like “Almost Famous”, “Bride Wars”, “A Little Bit of Heaven”, “My Best Friend’s Girl” and “Something Borrowed.”

7. Jennifer Lopez

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Whether it’s by revealing her true identity as a maid to the man she loves or confessing that she’s pregnant with a baby that’s not his, Jennifer Lopez’s characters often find themselves in hilariously vulnerable situations. We loved her in movies like “Maid in Manhattan”, “The Backup Plan” and “The Wedding Planner”, among others. We’ve continued to love her in her most recent projects like “Hustlers” and Shotgun Wedding. Lopez’ has shown versatility as she’s navigated different movie genres as well as her music career.  

8. Nia Vardalos 

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Nia Vardalos’ breakthrough role was Toula Portokalos in the 2002 film “My Big Fat Greek Wedding”, which she wrote and starred in. Her other works include “My Life in Ruins”, “I Hate Valentine’s Day”, “Meet Prince Charming” and “Man Seeking Women.” Vardalos’ work is widely known for honoring her Greek roots and highlighting themes of family, tradition and personal growth. We loved her in the BFGW trilogy and continued to love her as she broke cultural stereotypes through her characters.

9. Drew Barrymore 

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Drew Barrymore is a beloved figure in both comedic and dramatic roles. Whether she’s portraying romantic interests or a quirky best friend, she always manages to charm us with her wit and humor. Some of her most iconic projects include “50 First Dates”, “Everyone Says I Love You”, “Music and Lyrics” and “The Wedding Singer.” Barrymore’s iconic scenes range from action sequences in Charlie’s Angels to romantic scenes in “Never Been Kissed.” However, one of my favorites will always be when she runs barefoot across a baseball field to kiss Jimmy Fallon’s character in “Fever Pitch.”

10. Cameron Diaz

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Cameron Diaz’s acting style is vibrant and impeccable comedic timing. Diaz brings a lively charm to every character she portrays. She’s known for her ability to effortlessly transition between romantic leads and comedic roles. Her breakthrough role was Tina Carlyle in the 1994 film “The Mask”, where she starred opposite Jim Carrey. Diaz was also in “There’s Something About Mary”, “The Other Woman”, “What Happens In Vegas”, “The Holiday” and “The Sweetest Thing.” The dance scene in “The Mask” is easily one of my favorite Cameron Diaz scenes.